Tested: The 8 Best Soft Coolers For Any Adventure

Whether it’s to preserve perishable foods or simply to keep drinks nice and cold on a hot sunny day, mobile coolers are immensely helpful, must-have items for the majority of camping, tailgating, and outdoor enthusiasts. While they lack the rigid protection and structural integrity of their hard-shelled cooler counterparts, soft-sided coolers can nonetheless be equally hardwearing, if made using the right construction techniques and materials. On the other hand, their lightweight build allow them more mobility and farther range, whether you’re trying to find the perfect spot on the beach or lugging gear to the campsite. In this guide, we’ve tested the best soft-sided coolers around and highlighted our favorites.

How We Tested

It’s particularly important to buy the right model when shopping for a soft-sided cooler, as the lower-quality specimens not only afford inferior cooling properties, but are also flimsier, cheaply manufactured, and overall far more prone to tearing or otherwise failing while out in the field. So, with this in mind, we’ve dug into our archives, pored over dozens of product releases, and scanned the market, taking into account construction, materials, size, price, aesthetic, and insulation to help bring you this guide to the best soft coolers.

For testing, we wanted to see how well the coolers held ice, so we filled each one up halfway to see how much melted after 24 hours. If all of it was melted, we checked the temperature of the water at that time. We also did leak tests for each cooler by holding them sideways with water to see if any came out. Along with actual ice retention and leak-proof performance, we also looked at weight, comfort, practicality, overall design, and more. All of our findings are detailed below.

What to Consider When Buying a Soft Cooler

Materials: The quality of a soft cooler largely boils down to the materials used to make it (and the construction techniques used to piece them together). What separates the worthwhile bags from the rest are materials being utilized such as hardwearing high-denier nylons, PVC, and TPU. It’s also important to see if an item’s materials have been given any coatings or treatments that may further fortify the cooler.

Construction: Liquids are heavy, so consequently you want a vessel designed to carry food and drinks to be extremely durable and well-made, which is why a soft-coolers construction is of such immense importance. You’ll want to keep an eye out for soft coolers with multi-seam (and box-stitched) stitching, and heat and laser-welding, and reinforcements. These areas (combined with materials) also determine how durable a cooler is, which is important as there’s a vast spectrum of fairly delicate to extremely rugged coolers out there.

Insulation/Cooling Properties: Different soft-sided coolers offer varying levels of cooling. The areas to hone in on here are the insulation materials and technologies being used, as they will play the largest role, followed by design, and then construction. Not only is the specific type of insulation being used of upmost importance, but so too is the construction techniques, liners, and shells used in conjunction with said insulation, as these aforementioned areas will greatly influence how effective a given cooler’s insulation is (or isn’t), as different coolers offer different cooling abilities, ranging from a few hours, up to the better part of a week.

Size: Just like hard coolers, soft-sided coolers come in all shapes and sizes, from personal lunch box-sized vessels to massive multi-hundred liter units capable of accommodating things like large deep-sea fishing catches. You’ll want to consider your intended application, how much food and/or drinks you’ll be taking, the duration of your trip, and the climate to help determine the right size. Rather than that of other containers (lunch boxes, backpackes, etc.), cooler capacity often uses the “can” as its unit, referring to how many 12-ounce cans can fit inside with a 2:1 ice-to-can ratio by volume.

Mobility: As previously mentioned, mobility is one of, if not the greatest advantage offered by soft-sided coolers. Not only do you want to focus on size and weight, but it’s also crucial to consider the handles or straps that a cooler has, as this will play a pivotal role in how portable it will be. The same goes for buckles, tie-downs, and other features that will bolster a cooler’s carrying or transportation options.

Storage: One of the major benefits of soft-sided coolers is that most of them can be broken down or folded up for compact storage or transport, unlike hard-sided coolers. For city-dwellers or overlanding enthusiasts with limited space, this can be an important factor. If this area concerns you, as well, then be sure to check into the collapsibility of a cooler before making your purchase.

Manufacturer: While there are (very) seldom exceptions to the rule, the vast majority of the time you can rest assured that you’re getting a solid, well-made product when you buy from a reputable manufacturer with a history of quality goods. Sticking with a gear company or outdoor brand that you trust can be particularly helpful with soft coolers, as overall quality will largely determine your experience with the product.

Leak Proof: Soft coolers invite you to take them farther than their hard-shell counterparts. As such, you might want them to be a bit more leak-proof. When ice melts, water will obviously form. But if you’ve got this thing rolling around in your trunk or set up next to your sleeping bag, the last thing you want to worry about is leakage.

*Note: Ice retention quotes are always relative and will be affected, often negatively, by factors such as exterior temperatures.

REI Co-op Pack-Away 12 Soft Cooler

Best Budget Pick: If you’d like to save money on your next camping trip, heading to REI’s website is always your best bet. Although they sell gear from the top brands in the space, the outdoor retailer’s own house brand often makes the best budget-friendly options around, and with expertise on its side. Case in point, this Pack Away 12 Soft Cooler, a 17-liter unit made from recycled polyester on top with PEVA insulation liner and an abrasion-resistant recycled nylon bottom, is offered at less than half the price of the cheapest competition. Weighing just about 1.2lbs, the cooler comes with external pockets and gear loops, as well as a comfortable padded shoulder strap.

For just $40, you’ll certainly notice the difference between the REI Pack Away and the more expensive options. And some of the differences will be deal breakers for many of you. But let’s go over the best features first. For starters, the top, while not leak-proof, is very easy to open and close. It features two basic zippers that allow you to open from either side or just the middle, which is great for maintaining interior temperature. On the other hand, the zippers never close flush so water can and will leak out. The exterior gear loops are a nice addition as well. Each corner has a loop for tying this or adding a shoulder strap, etc. Likewise, there are webbing loops underneath the handles on both sides for attaching extras such as a bottle opener or a gear pouch with utensils. You’ll also notice how incredibly thin the cooler is. Easily capable of fitting between seats in your car or in other small spaces (when empty), the bag can also be rolled up or folded when not in use.

You will have trouble standing up this REI cooler on its own, which may become even more complicated when you discover now not leak proof it actually is. When your ice melts, which will happen relatively quickly (this cooler has the worst ice retention on this list by far), your water won’t stay inside in the slightest if tipped over. Not to mention, there was noticeable condensation build-up on the outside when left out over night. However, there is a cool function on the bag that allows you to turn it into a flat-bottomed unit. To do this, you push down the cooler and fold up the bottom and/or top corners to hook around a T-hook on either side. Admittedly, this isn’t super easy to do and will be nearly-impossible to do it properly once the cooler is already full, so keep this in mind before any ice or drinks get added. It’s also important to note that the bag was one of just two coolers we tested that didn’t hold its ice. Not only that but the water temperature after 24 hours was already up to 52.2ºF –– way above the safe temperature for food refrigeration.

Verdict: Lightweight and easy to stow when empty, the affordable REI Packaway is a nice 12-can unit with tough-enough walls and the ability to convert into a flat-bottomed cooler. However, if you’re worried about leaks or temperature retention, it might be worth it to upgrade to one of the better performing options on this list.

NorChill BoatBag xTreme Marine Cooler

Best for Boating: If you’re planning on taking the boat out for fishing or kayaking, get yourself this BoatBag xTreme Marine Cooler from NorChill, a waterproof option with virtually indestructible YKK zippers on both the main pocket and both side pockets. Equipped with puncture-resistant liner with fusion-welded liner seams for added waterproofness, the shell itself is made from tear-resistant PVC tarpaulin that’s UV-resistant and anti-mildew so that it will last you ages. Moreover, the seams are double-stitched and fusion welded for added durability and seep-proof capability. For tethering to the floor, the anti-skid canvas bottom features integrated anchor hooks.

From a subjective standpoint, the BoatBag xTreme is a good-looking cooler. The white shell matches its seafaring purpose while the stitched PVC tarpaulin shell brings an interesting aesthetic compared to polyester- or TPU-shelled coolers. Unlike other waterproof coolers, the YKK zippers here aren’t a pain to open. A lot of the units on this list were seemingly impossible to unzip, at least quickly. Yet the NorChill’s zipper accessibility didn’t seem to affect its temperature retention at all. Ice was still very much left after 24 hours, albeit most of it was melted. Even more impressively, the water-sealed zippers have also been given to the exterior pockets, which are really large. While a lot of the coolers in this guide are difficult to carry, the sturdiness of the BoatBag keeps the weight compact and the padded handles aren’t tough on your hands.

Considering the interior capacity of 24 cans (12- and 48-can options are also available), the width of the bag is rather bulky when you add the external pockets on either side. However, compared to the likes of the REI Packaway or the Polar Bear, which both sport a similar tote-like design, you don’t have to worry about the BoatBag changing much in size. The firm walls can still be pushed in but they won’t bulge easily if overstuffed. Likewise, the reinforced base is wide enough to let this stand up on its own. Even though it’s long (18″), the corners of the mouth can be clipped down easily for storing. And what’s more, these side clips can be loosened and tightened as you wish, which is a nice way to accommodate larger or smaller loads. We should also note that although the zipper is hydrophobic, the cooler will spill water if turned upside down.

Verdict: With plenty of gear loops on the outside (24), integrated hooks for tying down, and an anti-skid bottom, the NorChill BoatBag xTreme is a superb option for boating, but is just as appealing for non-aqueous outings –– although, the white walls might get a bit dirty, which may be this bag’s only downside. For just $100, this cooler is one of the best on this list, period.

Polar Bear Coolers 24 Pack Original Nylon Soft Cooler

Best for Road Trips: A straight-forward no-frills, tote-style soft cooler, this unassuming-looking Polar Bear product packs some impressive features, like 1,000D nylon outer shell reinforced via double-hemmed and anchor-stitched seams. Opening the cooler’s super heavy-duty YKK #10 weatherproof zippers reveals its extremely-durable anti-microbial, FDA food-grade, double-TPU-coated nylon interior liner. Separating the nylon liner and interior is 1” 10-gauge high-density foam insulation that claims to keep ice frozen for up to 24 hours, even in over 100-degree heat. We got hands-on with the 24-can version, but this cooler also comes in 6-, 12-, and 48-can sizes (as well as an 18-can backpack version) — all of which also include room for anywhere from 2 to 20lbs of ice.

Likely the first thing you’ll notice about the Polar Bear cooler is how incredibly lightweight it is, thanks to the nylon shell, which feels just as tough. Already pretty compact despite the size, the unit can fold down its corners with the built-in G-hooks on either side of the base. This is great for squeezing this behind your seat in the car without getting in the way of other passengers or luggage. Likewise, these hooks can be tightened, albeit there’s not a ton of give and you might run into some issues with larger loads. Unlike the REI Packaway above –– another similarly lightweight option –– this Polar Bear bag won’t fall over if you choose not to clip down the corners. We also loved the exterior pocket, which features a waterproof zipper as well. However, if you’re looking for a plethora of webbing or gear loops, you’ll only find a couple.

When we say something isn’t leak proof, we’re usually talking about the ease of which water (melted ice) comes out of the zippers. However, the Polar Bear is the only cooler on this list that actually seeps through the base/walls itself regardless of having a decent temperature retention. This isn’t condensation but actual moisture being emitted. Although nylon is an inherently water-resistant material, the shell’s integrity also makes you wonder how well the cooler would hold up in the rain or at the beach. While not a deal-breaker if you’re working with ice packs (which might be more preferable on shorter road trips anyway), actual ice will certainly leak through once it melts (it even seeped into the exterior zipper pocket, which could be a problem if you have things inside you don’t want getting wet, hence the waterproof zipper used to close it up). So if you’re keeping this in your car, take precautions. Fortunately, the Polar Bear had solid ice retention after 24 hours and not much water was in there to begin with.

Verdict: Not only the most leak-proof of the ones we tested but the only one that seeped water out of its walls and base, which can be an issue if you don’t use ice packs. However, the Polar Bear is also one of the lightest, most compact options around, which can be favorable if you’re road tripping and don’t want to bring around something as intrusive as a hard-shelled cooler.

RTIC Soft Pack Cooler

Best Overall: The ultimate soft-sided cooler, among other things, needs to be waterproof, super tough, compact, and relatively lightweight. RTIC’s Soft Pack Cooler is all those things and more. Built with a heavy-duty nylon shell with 2 whole inches of closed-cell foam insulation, this unit is also leak-proof and can float on the water so you can enjoy your beverages cold wherever you go. Insulated with closed-cell foam and liner that’s both puncture- and abrasion-resistant, it’s equipped with an exterior pocket and multiple carrying options. What’s more, there are plenty of colorways to choose from, and in four different-sized options. We opted to check out the 30-can model.

RTIC is a great outdoor brand to look at when you need to save some shekels without compromising quality. At around $100, its Soft Pack Cooler is no exception. It’s about the same price as tote-style coolers, but this unit is designed with the spirit of a hard-sided ice chest in terms of sturdiness and rigidity, but without all the extra weight. Weighing just 4lbs, the cooler has a thick wall of insulation that can be seen when you open it up. However, it was one of only two coolers that didn’t have anymore ice after 24 hours. Fortunately, the temperature of the water was still under 40ºF (barely though at 39.9ºF), which is the maximum refrigeration temperature for food safety.

The Soft Pack Cooler is easy to carry, although its handles could be individually padded. Instead, they’re rather thin but can be combined and Velcro-wrapped together, which will likely be just fine for most users. Aside from the carrying straps, there are grab handles on both sides for dragging or carrying with two people. Like a lot of the chests we tested that had waterproof zippers, the RTIC was pretty difficult to open, which can cause you to leave it unzipped and, thus, decreasing the longevity of the internal temperature. I’d love to see another pocket or two on the outside since the one that’s equipped is rather small and tightly fitted to the wall of the cooler. Likewise, there’s a lack of gear loops on the outside like you’ll see with the YETI below, although the sides feature attachment points for the included shoulder strap.

Verdict: Leak-proof and capable of floating on water, the RTIC Soft Pack Cooler is an affordable soft-sided option for people who want something more similar to a hard-sided cooler. The ice didn’t survive after 24 hours but the internal temperature was still capable of refrigerating food, technically. This is a lightweight and sturdy option that will perform well and give you the best bang for your buck.

Igloo Trailmate 24-Can Backpack

Best for Hiking: A growing trend in the outdoor community is the backpack cooler, which can be really helpful when transporting your food, drink, and seltzers to the campsite or your day-hike destination. Igloo may be one of the names most synonymous with ice chests but they didn’t shy away from the changing times with the Trailmate backpack cooler, a 24-can unit that adds less that 4lbs to your overall load (when empty) and features 600D coated polyester construction with MaxCold Ultra insulation. Despite its soft-sided build, this thing is totally crush-proof, sturdy enough to not sag off your back, and equipped with multiple grab handles.

Undoubtedly one of the best-looking coolers on this list, the Igloo Trailmate backpack cooler is appealing enough from its clean aesthetic but also benefits from an intuitive design. The leak-proof pocket on front is refreshingly large and slants at the bottom so that if water does get in, it collects in a reservoir so your gear won’t necessarily just be sitting in a puddle (depending what the gear is). Despite its size, the backpack is pretty lightweight. There are also grab handles on either side in addition to carrying straps on top, which could admittedly get in the way if not Velcroed together. It’s also one of the only waterproof models we tested that has zippers which aren’t a pain to open (although it’s not leak-proof). Likewise, there are two zippers, so you don’t have to unzip the entire bag to get something on top, thus helping preserve the interior temperature and ice.

With Igloo, it’s the small details that make it brilliant. Consider the lid, which unzips farther around back than a normal zippered lid. This may seem like a small design feature but it actual prevents the lid from closing when you’re trying to get things out. Other coolers will close automatically, which can be annoying and also make you think they’re sealed shut when they’re not. My biggest complaint with the bag is the difficulty of adjusting the sternum strap, as well as the lack of a waist strap, which would certainly come in handy if you’re lugging around 24 cans of liquid plus ice.

Verdict: Comfortable on your back, and shockingly lightweight for its size and capability, Igloo’s Trailmate backpack cooler is a superb option that not only looks great but is intuitively designed for lugging water, beer, and/or perishables on your back when out on the trail. The zippered pocket in front is large enough for any non-food items for your adventure, while the exterior material ensures supreme durability in most situations.

Pelican Dayventure Sling Cooler

Best Cooler Sling: Pelican may be known for its supreme crush-proof gear boxes, but when it came to its flagship Dayventure Sling Cooler, it opted for the soft-sided variety. Still maintaining the brand’s knack for outside-the-box designs and hallmark durability, this unit sports a unique shape in that it eschews the traditional ice chest shape for one that’s much longer. Capable of fitting a 12-pack of drinks still inside their box or four bottles of wine, the cooler is much bigger than it looks yet still quite compact and versatile. Available in coyote brown or light gray, the Dayventure Sling is built with thick closed-cell foam insulation and comes equipped with a padded shoulder strap for easy carrying.

While not everyone needs or wants a cooler with this particular design, the Pelican Dayventure adds a portable cooler without adding the same amount of bulk as an average portable cooler. It fits just 12 cans, but most 12-can units are either totes or lunch box-style bags which also add girth to their overall volume. Meanwhile, the Dayventure stays at just 7.5″ deep, which won’t come off of your body too far. The shoulder strap is adjustable and sports swivel clips that are easy to adjust. When its thrown around your neck, the soft exterior rests nicely against your body, in part thanks to the flattened corners that don’t jab you in awkward places. It’s here when I noticed that this unit would be unusable if it weren’t leak-proof, which it is!

Like all of the leak-proof bags on this list, the zipper on the Pelican Dayventure is incredibly hard to open and close. You also might notice that the 7.9-pound weight is the heaviest on this list by a couple of pounds. Fortunately, because of how the weight is distributed with its lack of bulk, that weight isn’t super noticeable. However, for a 12-can bag, you might want something a bit lighter. Also, the external pocket could afford to be a bit more spacious. It’s far too tight against the shell. The biggest issue you’ll have with the Dayventure, despite its unique size and design, is the practical applications that come with them. While it’s great for efficient packing and even carrying around your body as an addition to your backpack, the length of the cooler (18.3″) combined with its width (7.5″) will make it difficult to sift through, especially when there’s ice inside. Say the beer you’re looking for makes its way to the bottom of the cooler. You’ll have to dump out some ice or wait until it melts before you can get what you want. This unit keeps ice frozen after 24 hours, although you might not want it to; maybe ice packs or really cold water are better ways to keep your drinks cold inside.

Verdict: Although the zippers are tough to open and close, the Pelican Dayventure is a unique cooler for day hikes and picnics that benefits from the brand’s signature toughness. However, the practicality due to its shape comes into question once you add ice to the equation, which will stay frozen for over 24 hours, for better or worse.

ENGEL HD30 Waterproof Soft-Sided Cooler Tote Bag

Best Large Cooler: With soft-sided coolers, the utilization of high-end materials and construction techniques don’t just allow for extremely rugged items, but can also make for some incredibly-performing offerings like ENGEL’s HD-30 Waterproof Soft-Sided Cooler Tote Bag. Featuring an 840D shell with a thermoplastic polyurethane-laminated front and back and closed-cell foam insulation, the HD-30 is entirely welded rather than sewn, allowing it to keep ice frozen for as much as four-and-a-half days, even in 90-degree temperatures. Available in four color combinations, the HD-30 is an early adopter of ENGEL’s patent-pending “Vacuum Valve,” which can be used to inflate, or deflate air from between the cooler’s interior and exterior layers. The award-winning HD-30 also has heavy-duty hardware, buckles, a bottle opener, and a padded carrying handle and ergonomic shoulder strap.

Most of the coolers we tested held at least most of their ice for 24 hours. However, the ENGEL HD30 had easily the most ice left over (in fact, I didn’t see any noticeable melting until the second day), staying true to its claim above. To set it apart from its hard-sided counterparts, the 48-can unit does have some bells and whistles that are exclusive to soft-sided coolers, such as the multiple grab handles feel soft in your hand (as well as an included shoulder strap), while the top corners can clip down to save more space when packing your car or RV. And then there’s the aforementioned Vacuum Valve at the base, which helps with improving ice retention even further. You use an actual vacuum to suck out the excess air between the insulation layers (much like a vacuum-insulated water bottle), which also firms up the wall of the cooler walls.

Seeing that this cooler holds up to 48 cans, the total volume is quite large as well, which will be a definite selling point for many consumers. At 20.5″ across, it might not fit into a lot of tight spaces. With that, it’s also incredibly heavy when filled all the way, despite the fact that its dry weight of 5.25lbs is pretty impressive. It could certainly use a drain of some sort on the bottom. Although the side exterior zippered pocket is tight against the outer wall, it’s wide and deep enough that you’ll get actual use out of this compared to the ostensible pockets on other bags. Built for extra attachments, there are a few webbing loops on the outside, with an included bottle opener already attached to one of them.

Verdict: Large and in charge, the ENGEL HD30 has easily the best ice retention of any cooler we tested, while also benefitting from a unique patent-pending Vacuum Valve technology that improves that insulation even more. It might be difficult to find space for this in your jam-packed car or RV, but it will serve you well on a multi-day camping trip and has some extra features that make this a great alternative to a hard-sided cooler of the same size.

YETI Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler

Best High-End Cooler: Available in three sizes, YETI’s fan-favorite Hopper Flip is about as high-end as you can get with a soft-sided cooler. It features arguably the most leak-proof lid of them all, with the brand’s HydroLok zipper closing up the flip-top lid, which makes it super easy to see everything you have inside. With plenty of gear loops on the outside, this unit can go with other add-ons from the brand as well. Other noteworthy elements on the cooler included YETI’s puncture-, UV-, and mildew-resistant DryHide Shell (840D TPU) and ColdCell (closed-cell) insulation, the former of which provides ample protection while the latter guarantees an ice-cold interior.

It might be difficult to justify a $250 cooler that holds just 13 cans, but if you’re familiar with YETI’s performance, you’ll likely know that their steep price tags are almost always justified. Although it wasn’t at the very top of our results, the Hopper Flip held its ice better than almost every other unit we tested. The melted water was still under 50ºF after 36 hours. If you’re into attaching extras onto your bags or backpacks, you’ll love the plethora of webbing on not just one, but BOTH sides of the cooler. I also loved the high lip around the lid, which is great for stacking or simply resting your beverage on top of the cooler when you’re drinking it. Likewise, there’s a grab handle on each side, plus an included shoulder strap, which obviates any overthinking when it comes to packing the car.

As much as all those gear loops can come in handy when you’re camping or hiking, the exterior could use an external pocket or two for things like napkins or utensils. In terms of opening and closing the cooler, the main zipper was the most difficult to zip and unzip out of the ones I tested –– and there were some doozies here. This is a result of how incredibly leak-proof this cooler is to begin with, which is a useful trait to combat melted ice. However, what may have bothered me even more with the Hopper Flip was how automatically the lid kept snapping shut. This might be helpful for preserving internal temperature since the zipper is so difficult to operate. However, if you forget that it’s unzipped, it could pose a hazard when you go to pick it up quickly by the top handle.

Verdict: Despite the tricky zipper and fussy lid, the YETI Hopper Flip is a great smaller option with a clean design, plenty of gear webbing, and a grab handle on virtually all sides. It’s a solid option when you’re just going out for the day or by yourself. However, the $250 price tag will make it difficult to justify for a lot of buyers, which is why you may have to be sold on YETI’s capability with their other products before making the leap to this high-end cooler.

Soft Coolers Comparison Chart

Benefits of Soft-Sided Coolers

While hard-sided coolers do generally offer more strength, have the possibility of being vacuum-insulated, and can be used for seating or an impromptu table, they’re markedly less travel-friendly than coolers of the soft-sided variety. Not only are soft-sided coolers lighter, but they typically offer more versatile carrying options, can be carried into the backcountry on foot, and can easily be crammed into spaces hard coolers couldn’t when packing, as well as compact collapsed forms when not in use.

Honorable Mentions

If you’re into the backpack cooler style, IceMule makes a solid alternative to the Igloo above. The brand’s Pro Insulated Backpack Cooler Bag is a 24-can waterproof bag that can float on water and, unlike the Igloo Trailmate, can compress really easily when not in use.

Leave it to Hydro Flask to know how to make one of the best coolers around. Capable of holding 42 cans without ice with a 36-hour cold retention, this 26L Day Escape Tote is easy to carry, and in multiple ways with shoulder straps that can adjust to handle length and a removable cross-body strap. However, the aesthetic of this bag didn’t tickle our fancy like some of the others on our list.

If you like the YETI Hopper Flip but don’t want to pay the price, you can look at the ORCA Walker 20 Can Soft Cooler Bag, with a heavy-duty design and several color options.

We loved the look of the BruMate MagPack 24-Can Backpack Soft Cooler, as well as its feature set, which a leak-free magnetic seal, removable backpack straps, and a puncture-resistant shell.. However, despite its name, it doesn’t really fall in line with the “soft-sided” category and has more in common with hard-sided coolers.

CamelBak’s ChillBak is definitely worth mentioning, but the extremely high price is hard to recommend over the Igloo backpack cooler above, which is under half the price. 

Tested: The Best Insulated Water Bottles

If you’ve gotten your soft cooler in-hand, you’ll likely want a water bottle that will be just as insulated. Head over to our recent guide where we’ve tested the best insulated water bottles around.